Dew-Treadway Explains Decision

Author: Christian McCollum

June 11, 2014

Notre Dame scooped up another defensive lineman on Wednesday, gaining a pledge from Illinois’ Micah Dew-Treadway. The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder announced the news on Twitter at the conclusion of an unofficial visit to South Bend.

“OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME #GOIRISH.”

Earlier during the visit, Dew-Treadway tweeted that Notre Dame’s was “amazing” and that it’s tradition was “simply unmatched.”

“It actually checked all the boxes with academics, the football standpoint being developed,” he told Irish Sports Daily following his decision. “Spiritually and holistically, it felt like the perfect fit for me and my family. I made the decision and it was very important to me that they be a part of it and it felt like it was the best place for me.”

Dew-Treadway is the 10th member of Notre Dame’s 2015 class. He is the second defensive line pledge, joining Indianapolis’ Brandon Tiassum, who offered his commitment to the Irish during a campus visit on Sunday.

He landed the offer from the Irish a couple weeks ago and told Irish Sports Daily he was immediately putting Notre Dame into his top three.Still, he didn’t expect to pull the trigger today.

“Notre Dame is very prestigious, but didn’t know that I would feel the way I felt and experience the things I experienced, going to the Grotto and seeing the mural on Touchdown Jesus and going to the Dome,” he said. “Spiritually is a big part of my life and I believe God has brought me to where I am.”

Dew-Treadway gave Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly the news during a meeting at the end of the trip.

“When I sat down with Coach Kelly, he was telling me about Notre Dame,” said Dew-Treadway. “I just let him know. He loved it. He said that I could really flourish even outside of football, I could take the Notre Dame brand with me and do well.”

The Irish plan on using him both at defensive end and defensive tackle and using his ability to rush the quarterback and disrupt plays, according to Dew-Treadway.

“That’s what I like to do anyway,” he said. “They said they’re going to push me to my strengths. They said they seem at three-technique, but it could be both.”

The Bolingbrook High School prospect chose the Irish over offers from schools like Virginia, Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Purdue among several others.